Entertainment

The 10 Best Space Games of All Time

Best Space Games

1. Space Invaders (1978)

Space Invaders was one of the first shooting games ever created, and is partly responsible for the transition from video games as a fad to a multimillion dollar industry. The image of the pixelated alien enemy has only grown more popular with time, so much so that it has become an icon representing video games as a whole. The basic concept of the game is simple but still widely popular. Plants vs. Zombies, anyone?

2. Asteroids (1979)

Atari’s best selling game of all time, Asteroids was so popular when it came out in 1979 that arcade operators had to install larger coin boxes due to the number of quarters customers were spending to play the game. To this day, we still get nostalgic thinking of those pew pew! pew pew pew! sounds.

3. Metroid (1986)

Super Metroid took the series to unprecedented levels, and Metroid Prime wowed us in 2002, but classic Metroid was where it all began. Not only was Metroid one of the first games to introduce the idea of power ups, but players who beat the game in under five hours were rewarded with the knowledge that the protagonist of the game, Samus Aran, was female.

Metroid was also one of the first games that not only allowed, but encouraged us to explore the planet of Zebes, looking for power ups that would grant Samus special abilities and advanced armor and weaponry.

4. System Shock 2 (1999)

System Shock 2 has players assume the role of a lone soldier working against the outbreak of a genetic infection that has taken over a starship in a cyberpunk 2114. While the game never achieved commercial success, it was later proclaimed by many critics to be ahead of its time and likely influenced many modern first person shooters, including popular favorite Bioshock, which Irrational Games released as a self-proclaimed “spiritual successor” to the System Shock series.

While rights issues prevented new players from getting the game for years, it's now available from Gog.com for less than $10.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

There’s a lot to love about Knights of the Old Republic. You’ve got a diverse cast of characters, a stellar combat system and an element of choice between the light side and the dark side that will always produce a killer ending. Not to mention a setting within one of the most beloved sci-fi universes of all time. The game, despite being ten years old, is still as enjoyable as it was in 2003.

6. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Mass Effect gave us the beginnings of a franchise that would become a staple in any gamer’s repertoire, but the second installment is where the series really hit its apex. New characters were seamlessly blended into the original, beloved cast, each with a storyline and loyalty mission so original and compelling that you never felt like you were wasting time by getting to know them. The hypnotizingly good storyline was only compounded by the choice factor: every choice made in the game felt like it had dire consequences to the series. Despite less-than-stellar reviews for the final installment, ME2 had us on the edge of our seats.

7. Starcraft II (2010)

The original Starcraft retained a loyal fanbase long after it’s release in 1998, but the release of the sequel welcomed hordes of new fans as well. The extraterrestrial conflict, whether delivered in single player or multiplayer mode, is challenging and gripping, forcing players to change strategies often, and new additions made each of the three races even more distinct and fun to play.

8. Star Fox 64 3D (2010)

Every would-be space explorer wants to pilot their own ship, and Star Fox was one of the first games to let us do just that. Flying through space in your Arwing, performing special moves and getting Slippy Toad out of various jams (seriously… why was Slippy Toad always a mess?). The 2010 remake utilized the gyroscope in the Nintendo 3DS to better control the Arwing in space.

9. Dead Space 2 (2011)

Being a sequel, it loses a bit of the shock factor of the first game… and we really mean "a bit." Because if you weren’t shocked at any point while playing DS2, you have nerves of friggin’ steel. The second installment in the DS franchise kept the simple, satisfying scares of the first game and added an enriching layer of storytelling for a dynamic, emotionally gripping experience. Isaac’s journey through the Sprawl, battling Necromorphs with everything from an assault rifle to telekinesis, is one of the greatest action/horror games ever created.

10. Halo 4 (2012)

While the original Halo will always be nestled into a secure little corner of our gamer hearts, Halo 4 gave such a beautiful reboot to the aging franchise that it’s hard to pass up. New features are present to enhance the original gameplay without making it unnecessarily complex, while the multiplayer remains a popular haven of killing sprees, vehicular homicide, and, erm, teabagging. The much anticipated release of the latest installment didn’t disappoint; Halo 4 was one of the top three most played games on Xbox Live in 2012.

You want to take over the world? Do it. You want to kill zombies? Do it. You want to drive a Ferrari? Shoot electricity out of your finger tips? Hook up with someone way out of your league? You can do it, gamer.

If your dream is to explore the recesses of space, battle aliens and discover new civilizations, you're in luck. Space was one of the first genres of video games and remains popular to this day, with Star Wars: Battlefront and a new Halo being released for Xbox One and Planetside 2 being available for the Play Station 4, among other titles.

If your need for intergalactic mayhem is too strong to wait, then we've got the list for you. The following 10 games are our all time favorite space games, whether we want to shoot aliens or befriend them (but mostly shoot them) or traverse foreign worlds on foot or by space shuttle, there's something for everyone.

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